Spout sealing machine



P. E. FISCHER ET AL SPOUT SEALING MACHINE Oct. 4, 1949.

6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 17. 1945 RLM M 5 @m R/R N m X wiwm W44 0 MR 25 a 1.H T f m Oct. 4, 1949. P. E. FISCHER ETAL 2,483,458

SPOUT SEALING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS PAUL E. FISCHER EDGAR ARDELL BY/fm, M

/511 ATTORNEYS Oct. 4, 1949. P. E. FISCHER Erm. 2,483,458

SPOUT SEALING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Mn" IIIIIIITIL INVIENTOR5 PA UL E. F/JCHER EDGAR ARDE'LL BVY new/P ATTORNEYS P. E. FISCHER ETAL SPOUT SEALING MACHINE Oct. 4, 1949.

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 1'7, 1945 INVENTORS PAUL E. FISCHER EDGAR ARDELL 7717 ATTORNEYS Oct. 4, 1949. P. E. FISCHER ETAL srouw SEALING momma 6 Shets-Sheet 6 Filed July 17, 1945 INVENTORS PAUL E F/JCHE'R fDGAR .ARDELL /M' SM;

TN A! R ATTO RN EYS Patented Oct.1949

lJNlTED Paul E. Fischer, Portland, andEdgar Ardell, Mid-e 'dletown, Conn., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Hartford-Empire Company, Hartford,

. Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application July 17, 1945, Serial No. 605,540

I 1 V This invention relates to a machine for closing containers and more particularly concerns ap- Paratus of this nature for closing the spouts or other closures'of containers for salt or like granular materials and sealing Such spouts in closed position.

Salt and otherdry granular or 'pourable products arecustomarily packaged in cylindrical cn-.

I ,tainers or cans, usually formed of cardboard, that are provided with pouring spouts hingedlysecured to the top of the container. and movable' 8 Claims. (o1. 21629) character described which is simple and rugged in an opening in the..t0p from open to closed positions. In one well known construction, the spout forms a closure which substantially closes the opening in thecontainer top when the spout is mbved to its closed position. In the packaging of such materials, the containers are filled with the spouts open and it is thereafter necessary to close the spouts and to seal them against accidental opening and leakage while the container is in transit. Thissealing is preferably accomplished by adhesively securing a small sheet of thin paper over the closed spout and the adjacent 1 portions of the container top which surround the spout and the opening through which it moves. The paper employed is relativelythin and fragileand the difliculty of separating and applying in-- dividual sealing sheets of such paper has heretofore been a source of dimculty in machines for applying such seals as well as small paper labels to containers.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved machine for closing the spouts of containersand sealing the spouts in closed position as well as sealing the opening through which the spouts move. The invention further contemplates improved apparatus for cutting" successive sheets, which may comprise sealing sheets or-labels, or sealing sheets carrying printed label matter, from a continuous web or sheet material, spacing the cut sheets on a sheet applying element, such as a drum, applying adhesive to the spaced sheets and successively applying them to successive containers. Further objects of, the invention include improved mechanism for operatingthe sheet cutting means in timed relation with the web feeding and sheet separating operations, and improved means for permitting relative adjustment of the sheet cutting and applying means, the adhesive applying means and the contemplates the provision of apparatus of th in construction and which is capable of operating continuously without attention or servicing. Various additional objects, advantages and characteristic features of the invention will be-' .come apparent from the following description of a typical embodiment thereof.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which a typical embodiment thereof is illustrated. In the drawings: 1

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of in Fig. 1; v

Fig. 3 .is a plan view of the machine with certain parts omitted and others broken away to show the construction;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the web cutting and adhesive applying mechanism together with the spout closing mechanismof the machine;

Fig. 5 is a partial elevation showing the opera.-

tion of the web-cutting mechanism insevering a sheet from a continuous web;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the sealing sheet applying mechanism at the point in its operation where a sheet is being applied to a container;

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows; l

Fig. 8 is a view taken along the line '8-8 of Fig. '7 and viewed in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows; and

container-spout closing means, in order to' accommodate the apparatus to changes in size of the material employed and changes in size and shape of the containers. The invention further Fig. 10 is a view taken along the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 9 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the machine operates in conjunction with'the horizontal turntable ll of a container filling machine in which a plurality of containers, illustrated as conventional salt cans C, are .filled. The containers C as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5 are cylindrical and are provided with tops l2 having slotted openings 13 therein in which a spoutv I4 is hingedly secured to move between an open position, as shown at the right i in Fig. 1, and a closed position as shown in Fig. 5. In the closed position, the lip portion l5. of the spout substantially closes the container top open? ing l3. A succession of such containers C are disposed at regular intervals adjacent the periphery of the turntable .ll, each with its spout H the machine shown.

thereof as shown in Fig. 3.

open and disposed adjacent the edge of the turntable and with the spout extending radially The container clos and sealing mechanism includes a bed It carried on suitable .legs I! and having an upwardly extending frame member l8 integral therewith and suitably secured thereto.

A conveyor platform I3 is adjustably secured to and runs along the front face of the bed It; being mounted'on posts 20 adjustably secured to horizontal bracket arms 2| fixed to the bed as shown I in Fig. 2. The platform I9 is so disposed that its upper surface is aligned with the upper surface of the turntable II and its entering end is close to the periphery of this turntable as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The other end of the platform is is arcuately curved and disposed closely ad- Jacent the periphery of a container delivery turntable 22 carried by a shaft 23 journaled in'a .bracket 24 fixed to the bed l5. An outer guide bar 25 is disposedabove and outside the conveyor platform l9 and-is supported on posts 25 adjustably secured to the bracket arms 2|. A cooperating inner g'uide bar 21 is suitably fixed to the frame '|8. along the opposite side of the platform l9 as shown in Fig. 2, and this guide bar extends around and above the periphery of the defrom the turntable H and continuously pro pelled along the platform ill by suitable conveying mechanism, In the disclosed embodiment, an endless chain 28 is employed for this purpose. The chain 28 is carried by the successive idler sprockets 29. 30 and 3| and the driving sprocket 32. The sprockets 29 and 33 are so disposed that the span of the chain between them lies parallel to and adjacent the conveyor platform IS. The sprockets 23 and 30 are carried by stub shafts suitably :journaled in brackets 33 and 34 fixed to opposite ends of the bed l (Fig. 1). The sprocket 3| is suitably rotatably supported at the rear of the bed It and k serves to guide the chain 28 over a considerable arc of the driving sprocket 32. The sprocket 32 is fixed to the main drive shaft 35 which is journaled in a bracket 36 fixed to the rear-.

ward face of the frame l8, as best shown in Fig. 2. The shaft 35 is suitably driven at uniform speed by a motor or any other source of power.

A plurality of flight bars 3! are respectively 1 secured to the chain 28 at equally spaced points thereon. The bars 31 have arcuately curved hook shaped outer ends formed to embrace the cylindrical surfaces of the containers 0. The bars may be fixed to links of the chain 28 by suitable means such as pins 38 (Figs. 2 and 3.) The chain 28 is driven at a linear velocity which is timed in relation to the rate of rotation of the turntable ll so that as each successive container C moves in line with the conveyor platform IS, a flight bar 31 engages it and moves it onto and along the platform. As each successive container leaves the end of the platform l9 it is carried out of its propelling flight bar 3'! and onto the discharge conveyor 39 by the rapidly rotating turntable 22. The turntable 22' is driven by any suitable means through the bevel gears 43 at a speed such that the linear velocity of the portion thereof" on to and along'the surface.

racemes I erably greater than that of the chain 23 and its flight bars 31.

A frame plate 41 is pivotally secured to the frame l8 by a stud 42 (Figs. 1 and 2). The

5 angular position of the plate 4| relativeto the frame i8 is adjustable by means of a knurled headed bolt 43 passing through openings in two posts 44 and 45 respectively fixed to the plate 4| and the frame 18. The bolt 43' is provided 1 with a knurled nut 43, and adjustment'thereof stops the plate 4! at various angular positions while leaving it free to move a limited'distance counterclockwise about the stud 42 as viewed inFig. 1.

An adhesive applying drum4'l is carried on a shaft 50 through a suitable flexible connection 5| of known construction which permits limitedrelative movement between the axes of the connected shafts while transmitting power from the shaft 50 to the shaft 48. The shaft 50 is journaled in the frame l8 and-in the bracket 36, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7, and is driven from the shaft 35 through the bevel gears 52. The

adhesive applying drum 4! has a raised sector 53 on its periphery for, receiving adhesive and applying it to a cut sheet as hereinafter explained.

A drum 54 carried on ashaft 55 journaled in a movable frame 56 moves. in an adhesive trough .51 integral with the frame 53 and transfers adhesive therefrom to the raised sector 53 of the drum 41. The frame 56 is pivotally connected to the plate 4| by a stud 58 (Figs. 1 and 3). A

knurled headed bolt 59 passing through openings in the posts 60 and 5| respectively fixed to the frame 58 and the plate 4| permits adjustment of the relative positions of the drum 56 and the adhesive applying drum'41. A knurled nut 62 engages the bolt 59. The drum 54 is driven through a pinion 63 fixed to the shaft and meshing with the pinion 49 on the shaft 48.

A spout closing cam element 65 is disposed 45 centrally about the conveyor platform i9 and is l and 4, the cam surface 38 of the element slopes downwardly in the direction of movement of the conveyor chain'28 to a point where it will completely close the spout M of a container C moving beneath it. The element 65 has depend- 55 ing sidewalls. 59 oneither side of the cam surface 68, which walls extend beyond the leading end of this cam surface and guide the spout M A guide finger l0 protrudes from the leading end of the element 60 55 to properly guide the container spout into the space between the side walls 59 as will be apparent from Figs. 3 and 4. 7

Referring now to the mechanism for cutting, separating and applying: sealing sheets or labels -150 the containers, the primary element of this apparatus is a drum ll carried by a shaft 12 'iournaled in a boss on a frame I8. The -drum may be adjustably fixed to the shaft by means of bolts 83 passing through an arcuate slot 84 in the drum and engaging a flanged collar 85 keyed to the shaft 12 as shown in Figs. 1 and 9. The cylindrical surface of the drum II is centrally disposed above the conveyor platform 19 and is spaced therefrom bya distance substantially which the containers 0 are carried is consid- 76 equal to the height of the containers C being closed (Figs. 1, 4 and 5. vided with three equally spaced severing blocks 13, 14 and 15, each extending transversely Y across its cylindrical surface andformed of suitable yielding material for receiving the edge of a web severing knife which cuts the sheet surface as hereinafter vided for successively applying suction and pressure to the sets'of openings 11, 18 and 19 as the drum rotates. Asbest shown'in Figs. 9 and 10,

a circular manifold 86 slidingly engages the rearward end face of the drum H" and is preferably ground to fit tightly against this face. The manifold 86 is supported'on three studs 81 fixed to the frame I8 and is resiliently pressed against the drum face by the springs 88 on these studs. An arcuate suction passage 89 is formed in the drum face engaging surface of the manifold 86 in line with the drum passages 80, BI and 82, and thepassage 89 extends around approximately half the circumference of the drum from a point The "II pro-- a. P int where the pin teeth are interrupted, the I pinion I02 enters the slot I08 in;one of the arms 99 and decelerates the gear, whereupon the disc surface 96 engages the arm surface I04 and holds the gear 93 stationary while the pinion 94 turns through apredetermined angle, whereupon the other pin I03 enters-the slot I01 and accelerates the arm 99. the arcuate surface I04 passing into the recess 91 and the pinion teeth again engaging the gear teethto continue rotation of the gear 93 and the drum shaft 85. v

The stop mechanism is so arranged that the drum H is momentarily stopped three times during each complete revolution, the stops being made when each of the three severing blocks 93,

94 and 95 is at the uppermost or severingposition, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6.

A knife arm H4 is fixed to a shaft II5-journaled in a boss H6 011 the frame I8. The arm II 4 carries a knife blade II1 secured against the knifearm head II8 by a stud II9carrying, a spring I20 that presses the blade I I1 against the knife arm head and permits limited movement of the blade in the" direction of rotation of the drum H. The blade II1 extends across the pe- I ripheral surface .of the drum 1 I and may be 'prosomewhat in advance of the uppermost point of the drums rotation to a point equally in advance of its lowermostv point of rotation, as shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 10. A pipe 90 communicating with the passage 80 leads to'a suitable vacuum pump or suction line, not shown. Adjacent and slightly beyond the lowermost point of rotation of the drum H, a circular opening 9I is provided through the manifold 86 in line with the drumpassages 80, BI and 82. The opening 9| is supplied with air under pressure through a pipe 92. With the described arrangement, as the drum 1I rotates clockwise as shown-in Figs. 1, 4 and 5,

suction is applied to each successive set of drum periphery openings 11, 19 and 18 as'each such set filed January 20, 1945. As best shown in Fig. 8,

the pinion 94 has fixed thereto an interrupted disc 95 having an arcuate surface 96 between two recesses 91 and 98. A spider comprising three arms 99, I00 and IOI is fixed to the drum shaft 85 adjacent the gear 93 and in line with the disc 95. Two pins I02 and I03 protrude from the pinion 94 at the points where the teeth thereon are discontinued. The ends of the arms 99, I00 and HH are provided with concave arcuate faces I04, I05 and I06 which are disposed to be respectively engaged by the arcuate surface 96 of the disc 95 when the spider and the drum shaft are stopped. Pin receiving slots I01 and I08 are formed in the arm 99 on either side of the arcuate surface I04, and similar slots I09-IIO and III-I I2 are'respectiyely provided adjacent opposite sides of the surfaces I05 and I06 of the arms I00 and IN.

When the pinion 94 has turned the gear 93 to vided with an inclined -cutting edge as shown inFig. 9. An arm I2I carrying a cam engaging roller I22 is fixed to the knifearm shaft-H5 adjacent its rearward end. The roller I22 engages a cam disc I23 fixed to the shaft 50 to which the stop mechanism pinion 94 is secured. The disc I23 has a high point [24 (Figs. 1, 4 and 6) which lifts the arm-I2I and' so presses the edge of the knife blade II1 intoone of the drum carried severing blocks 13, 14 or 15 each time the drum is stopped by the above described stopping mechanism. The arrangement is such that the continued rotation of the pinion 94 while the gear 93 is held stationary turns the high point I24 of the cam disc I23 past the roller I22 and so actuates the knife blade 1 while the drum 1I is held stationary by the stop mechanism with one of the severing blocks 13, 14 or 15 in line with the knife blade 'I I1.

A web I25 of paper or similarm'aterial from which the container sealing sheets or labels are formed is supplied from a roll I26 carried by a bracket I21 fixed to the frame I8. A tension drag I28 pivotally secured to the bracket I21 engages the surface of the roll I26 as shown in Fig. The spindle I29 on-which the roll I26 is carried is axially: adjustable in the bracket I21 by means of a screw I30 threadedly engaging ablock I3I fixed to the bracket I21 and moving the spindle I29 through a link I32 (Fig. 2). This arrangement permits the web I25 to be properly aligned with the mechanism to which it is fed.

As shown in Fig. l, the 'web I25 passes to the right of a guide roller I33, then to the left of an idler roller I34, and then upwardly over a feed 'rol1er.l3 5 and down and under a second feed roller I36, finally moving to the cylindrical surface of the drum 1|. The rollers I33 and I34 are suitably rotatably supported on shafts .carried by the frame I8. The feedrollers I35 and I36 are driven in opposite directions as shown in Fig. l. roller I36 is secured is journaled in the frame I8 and carries a sprocket I38 driven through a chain I39 from a sprocket I40 fixed to the shaft 50 (Fig. 2). The shaft I4I of the upper feed .roller I35 carries a pinion I42 meshing with a like pinion on the shaft I31.

An arm I45 journaled on the shaft boss of the The shaft I31 to which the lower feed 7 idler roller I34 carries at its free end a roller I46 which is pressed against the web I25 on the lower feed roller I36 by a spring I41 engaging the arm I45. A label or sealing sheet pressing roller I48 is rotatably carried in a bracket I49 connected to the end of one arm I50 of a bell crank lever II through a spring I52. The bell crank lever I'5I is pivotally connected to the frame I8 by a stud I53. The other arm I54 of the bell crank lever carries a set screw I55 which engages a suitable stop on the machine frame I8 to limit the downward movement of the roller carrying arm I50. The'roller I48 is in line with the central portions of the containers C which are moved thereunder by the above described conveying mechanism, and the roller serves to firmly press a sealing sheet or label I44 into adhesive engagement with the container top I2 and the closed pouring spout I4 thereon.

The relative size of the sprockets I38 and I40 is so related to the peripheral dimensions of the feed rollers I35 and I36 and to the average rate of rotation of the drum II and its circumference that during each complete revolution of the drum 1 I, a sufiicient length of the web I25 is fed by the feed rollers to form'three sealing sheets or labels I44. The dimensions of each such sealing sheet I44 lengthwise of the web I26 is considerably less than the distance between successive severing blocks I3, I4 and I5 on the drum II (Figs. 4, 5 and 6).

In the operation of the machine, the conveying mechanism removes successive containers C from the turntable II and propels them along the conveyor platform I9 whereupon the cam surface 68 of the cam element 65 closes the pouring spout I40 of each successive container. Each container then moves along beneath the cylindrical surface of the drum II. As the drum II turns from the position indicated in Fig. 1, at which it is stopped and a sealing sheet or a label I44 is cut from the web I25 thereon, the drum is rapidly accelerated to a peripheral velocity considerably exceeding the speed at which the web I25 is fed by the feed rollers I35 and I36. During the initial portion of such drum movement, a length of the web I25 is carried along on the drum surface beyond the uppermost point thereof for the reason that previous to this movement a small amount of slack has developed in the web I25 between the feed roller I36 and the drum II, as will be explained. Thereafter, as the drum turns at a peripheral velocity exceeding the rate of feed of the web, the.

web slips on the drum surface until the drum has turned to the next station represented by the severing block I3. When this severing block has reached the uppermost point on the drum, the drum is stopped by the stop mechanism and the knife blade I I1 is lowered to cut off a sealing sheet or label I44, which is held on the drum surface by suction through the set of openings 11. While the drum is thus stationary, the web feed rollers I35 and I36 continue to turn and feed the web, and so produce a small amount of slack in the web span between the roller I36 and the drum II for the purpose explained above. As each successive cut sealing sheet or label passes the adhesive applying roller 41, the raised portion 53 of this roller applies adhesive to the outer face of the sheet. Thereafter, as each sheet I4I reaches the lowermost point of the drum, the suction thereon is cut off and pressure is applied to forcibly apply the sheet to an underlying container C over the closed pouring spout of the container and in engagement with the container top I2 around the closed pouring spout (Fig. 5). Thereafter, the container moves beneath the roller I46, and the applied sealing sheet is firmly pressed down into adhesive engagement with the container top and the closed pouring spout.

The above described operation is successively repeated as the drum 1 I'rotates.

The sealing sheet web and the sheets out therefrom may be held in firm contact with the drum II during the cutting operation by two pairs of spring pressed rollers I60 and I6I which respectively engage the peripheral drum surface on opposite sides of the knife blade I", as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The rollers I60 and I6I are respectively carried by pairs of arms I62 and I63 pivotally supported on stllds I64 and I65 fixed to the frame I6. Suitable springs I66 and I6] respectively press the roller arms of each pair I62 and I63 downward to force the rollers I60 and I6l toward the drum surface.

It will be understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of the apparatus above set forth without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, a conveyor for conveying a succession of containers, a rotatable drum having a cylindrical surface disposed adjacent said con veyor for engagement with the successiv containers carried thereby, means for feeding a continuous web of sheet material onto the cylindrical surface of said drum at a uniform linear velocity, means for successively stopping said drum and turning said drum at a, peripheral velocity greater than the linear velocity at which said feeding means feeds said web, means for severing a sheet from said web on said drum surface when said drum is stopped, and means for transferring the successive sheets so severed on said drum onto successive containers conveyed by said conveyor.

2. In a device of the character described, in combination, a conveyor for conveying a succession of containers, a rotatable drum having a cylindrical surface disposed adjacent said conveyor for engagement with the successive containers carried thereby, means for feeding a continuous web of sheet material onto the cylindrical surface of said drum at a uniform linear velocity, a continuously movin driving element, an intermittent motion mechanism connectin said driving element to intermittently turn said drum at a peripheral velocity greater than the linear velocity at which said feeding means feeds said'web and stop said drum, means driven by said driving element for severing a sheet from the web on said drum when said drum is stopped. means for applying adhesive to each such severed sheet 'on said drum surface and means for transferring the successive sheets so severed on said drum onto successive containers cdnveyed by said conveyor.

3. In a device of the character described, in combination, a substantially horizontal conveyor for conveying a. succession of containers, a drum rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and having a cylindrical surface disposed above said conveyor for engagement with the successive containers carried thereby, means for feeding a continuous web of sheet material onto the cylindrical surface of said drum. means for successively cutting sheets from said web on said drum surface, means for spacing the cut end of said web from each of said sheets along said drum surface, means for releasably holding said cut sheets on said drum surface, and means operated by the rotation of said drum for moving said sheets away from said drum surface and onto a container carried by said conveyor when each successive container is brought in contact with such sheet.

4. In a device of the character described, in combination, a substantially horizontal conveyor for conveying a succession of containers, a drum rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and having a cylindrical surface disposed above said conveyor for engagement with the successive containers carried thereby, means for feeding a continuous web of sheet material onto the cylindrical surface of said drum, means for successively cutting sheets from said web on said drum surface, means for spacing the cut end of said web from each of said sheets along said drum surface, suction means for applying suction to said cut sheets to hold the same on said drum surface, means for applying adhesive to said successive sheets on saiddrum surface and means for releasing said suction and applying pressure to move said sheets from said drum surface onto a container carried by said conveyor when each successive container is brought in contact with said drum surface.

5. In a device of the character described, in combination, a conveyor for conveying a succession of containers, a rotatable drum having a cylindrical surface disposed adjacent said conveyor for engagement with the successive containers carried thereby, means for feeding a continuous web of sheet material onto said cylindrical drum surface at a uniform linear velocity, means for successively stopping said drum and turning said drum at a peripheral velocity greater than the linear velocity at which said feeding means feeds said web to said drum surface, the average peripheral velocity of said 'drum being greater than the linear velocity at which said combination, a conveyor for conveying a suc-v cession of containers, a rotatable drum having a cylindrical surface disposed adjacent said conveyor for engagement with the successive containers carried thereby, means for feeding a continuous web of sheet material onto said cylindrical drum surface at a uniform linear velocity, a continuously moving driving element, an intermittent motion mechanism connecting said driving element to intermittently turn said drum at a peripheral velocity greater than the linear velocity at which said feeding means feeds said web and stopping said drum, the average peripheral velocity of said drum being greater than the linear velocity at which said feeding means feeds said web, means driven by said driving element for severing a sheet from the web on said drum when said drum is stopped, and means for transferring the successive sheets so severed on said drum onto successive containers conveyed by said conveyor.

7. In a device of the character described, in combination with a conveyor for conveying a succession of containers, means for applying a sheet to each of such a succession of containers comprising a rotatable drum having a cylindrical surface disposed adjacent said conveyor for engagement with successive containers carried thereby, means for intermittently turning and stopping said drum, at least one cutting block extending transversely of said cylindrical drum surface, said drum surface having a set of openings therein adjacent and in advance of said block in the direction in which said drum is turned, a, knife adjacent said drum surface, means operated when said drum is stopped for moving said knife to engage said block and sever a sheet from a web on said drum surface, means for applying suction to said set of openings to hold a cut sheet on said drum surface when and after such sheet is cut, means for retarding the movement of a web running to said drum surface whereby the cut end of such web is spaced circumferentially of the drum from a sheet cut therefrom by slipping of the web on said drum surface when said drum is turned, and means for applying fluid under pressure to said set of openings to propel a cut sheet from said drum surface 3 cession of containers. means for applying a sheet to each of such a succession of containers comprising a rotatable drum having a cylindrical surface disposed adjacent said conveyor for engagement with successive containers carried 5 thereby, means for intermittently turning and I stopping said drum, a plurality of cutting blocks extending transversely of said cylindrical drum surface at points equally spaced circumferentially of said surface, said drum surface having a set 40 of openings therein adjacent and in advance of each of said blocks in the direction in which said drum is turned, a knife adjacent said drum surface, means operating when said drum is stopped for moving said knife to engage one of said blocks and sever a sheet from a web on said drum surface, means for applying suction to each of said sets of openings to hold a cut sheet on said drum surface when and after such sheet is cut, means for retarding the movement of a web running to said drum surface whereby the cut end of such web is spaced circumferentially of the drum from a sheet cut therefrom by slipping of the web on the drum surface when the drum is turned, means for applying adhesive to each cut sheet on said 55 drum surface, means for applying fluid under 80 ated in accordance with the position to which said drum is turned for controlling the application of suction and fluid under pressure to said respective sets of openings.

PAUL E. FISCHER.

EDGAR ARDELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 676,244 Sherman June 11, 1901 

